Images of America -
Analyzing Music Videos: The Assignment
Integrated U. S. History and American Literature Class
Deborah Aufdenspring and Sandra Mings-Lamar
New Technology High School, Napa, CA
(Quick Links to related pages)
VIDEO ANALYSIS PROJECT
Overview: Analyze images for historical/cultural significance
What does the video say about the United States? (purpose)
What four or five specific images support that view? (supporting artistic
details)
What has research shown you about the historical background of the video's
images?
Is the video historically/culturally accurate? How do you know that? (Historical
research is your evidence.)
Does your group agree with the focus or theme of the video? Explain.
Group Work: Your group will:
Select a video you can all agree on
Present your analysis to the class using the above overview as a guide.
You should go beyond the question and answer format to make a presentation
that engages your viewers, uses visual material and explains both the video
and your research.
Group Roles:
1. Organizer, scheduler and chief researcher
Makes sure all tasks are done on time
Has primary responsibility for organizing group members to do research,
which may take place on-line with the Internet and Bookshelf Encyclopedia,
and at the college library, or public library, or libraries at Napa, Vintage,
or Sonoma State.
2. Discussion moderator and note-taker
Makes sure all students contribute and are heard
Records discussion notes and distributes them daily to group members
3. Writer/Producer for presentation
Puts together the pieces of the presentation made to the class
Makes certain that all group members participate in the presentation
4. Main Presenter
The "star" of the presentation
Has secondary responsibility for organizing and conducting research
5. Technician
Manages equipment, making sure the group uses equipment only for allotted
time
E-mails presentation outline to entire class after getting an OK from instructors
Gets permission to use a video different from those brought by instructor
if group wants to use own video
Note: All students in a group should participate in all aspects of the
presentation. All students are responsible for research. No one group member
is ìfinishedî with his/her job until all group members are
finished with the work of the group.
Individual Work:
In addition to the work of the group, each student will write an individual
analysis of the video the group analyzed, or, if s/he prefers, an analysis
of a different video.
Quick Links
Introduction - Analyzing Music Videos
Music Video Assignment
Analysis Tips
Comparing and Contrasting Music Videos
Grading Rubric
Stills of Sample Videos, with Sample Analysis Questions:
Billy Joel.....Erykah Badu.....Pop
up Videos.....Tracy Lawrence
Rage Against the Machine.....Vince
Gill.....Van Halen.....Aqua.....12
other videos
Videography
For Teachers...
For examples of recent student projects on analyzing music videos:
Student Work
E-mail me.
Return to your previous page by clicking your browser's "Back"
button, or
go to Next Page, or
go to the Site Index, or
Return to Ms. A's Class Home Page